DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2026.v14i05.038

Pages: 871-877

Background: Anemia in pregnancy is one of the leading public health problems in India, highly contributing to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Madhya Pradesh is a high-prevalence zone for hemoglobinopathies [HBPs] such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia with several areas showing more than 50% prevalence of HBP, including the East Nimar region. This study aimed to determine the spectrum of anemia and hemoglobinopathies in antenatal women referred for hematological evaluation at a major tertiary care center in this region of India. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of one year at the laboratory facilities of Nandkumar Singh Chouhan Government Medical College, Khandwa. The study included 400 antenatal women who gave consent to participate. Blood samples received in the Department of Pathology were analyzed using complete blood count [CBC] and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] for detection of hemoglobinopathies. Statistical analysis of the collected data was carried out using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Among the 400 antenatal women included in the study, anemia [hemoglobin <11 g/dL] was observed in 246 women [61.5%]. Mild anemia was the most common type, seen in 140 women [35.0%], followed by moderate anemia in 91 women [22.75%] and severe anemia in 15 women [3.75%]. Hemoglobinopathies were detected in 45 participants [11.25%]. Sickle cell trait [HbAS] was the most frequently identified abnormality and was present in 24 women [6.0%]. Beta-thalassemia trait [BTT] was detected in 18 women [4.5%], while sickle cell disease [HbSS] was identified in 3 women [0.75%]. Women with beta-thalassemia trait showed lower mean MCV values along with elevated HbA2 levels when compared to participants with normal hemoglobin patterns. Conclusion: The present study showed that both nutritional anemia and inherited hemoglobinopathies are common among antenatal women in this region of Madhya Pradesh. These find